Cochlear Implant technology is available as a routine treatment for both children and adults suffering from profound hearing loss. Various studies worldwide have weighed the benefit provided by a cochlear implant against the cost.

The UK government commissioned a nationwide study that indicated that cochlear implants are a cost effective treatment for adults (1) and could provide to be "highly cost-effective for children, with research into the latter ongoing" (2). In the USA, an extensive cost-utility analysis has concluded that "cochlear implants in profoundly deaf children have a positive effect on quality of life at reasonable direct costs and appear to result in a net savings to society" (3). Aspects studied include the cost of the implant, surgery and auditory training or rehabilitation, the cost of replacement equipment, the cost of hearing aids, the cost of frequent clinic visits, the cost of disposable batteries, replacement hearing aids, the estimated level of income that the individual may be expected to obtain, accessibility to mainstream schools and regular professional.....

(1) Summerfield AQ, Marshall DH. Cochlear Implantation in the UK 1990-1994. London, England: MRC-IHR, HMSO; 1995
(2) Summerfield AQ, Marshall DH, Archbold S. Cost-Effectiveness Considerations in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation. The American Journal of Otology, 1997; 18:S166-S168
(3) Cheng AK, Rubin HR, Powe NR, Mellon NK, Francis HW and Niparko JK. Cost-Utility Analysis of the Cochlear Implant in Children. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol 284 No.7, August 2000.